The Importance of a Good Caterer
Caterers are going to love the prep kitchen at Autumn Oaks Event Center! We focused on “catering to our caterers” when it came to our prep kitchen. Our kitchen comes fully equipped with a full size heater/proofer holding cabinet, 2 door turbo air reach in refrigerator, 3 compartment stainless steel sink, commercial microwave, large chest freezer, and stainless steel work tables. Don’t skip ahead Brides- This blog is for you! Besides your venue, the food and drink for your wedding will consume the largest part of your budget. Not to mention be one of the most important things to your guests! Below are a few tips and tricks for our Brides when choosing a caterer for their wedding day.
10 Interview Questions to ask your Wedding Caterer
- Are you available on my wedding date?
- How long have you been in business?
- Given my budget and guest count, what food choices would you recommend?
- Will you create a custom menu for our wedding?
- Do you offer packages or is everything a la carte? What packages do you offer?
- What décor do you provide for appetizer stations or buffet tables?
- How much do you charge for children’s meals?
- Do you offer food tastings? Is there an extra charge for this?
- What is your clean up policy?
- How much time do you require for setting up and breaking down my event? Are there extra fees for this?
Catering Options
Keep in mind that many caterers’ now days offer a range of services other than catering. Some are “event designers”, meaning they provide props and décor for the food and drinks. My sister in law went with this option for her wedding and it was beautiful! The caterer made sure to stick to her style and colors and the set up was a huge hit at the reception. Once again, Pinterest is a great spot for decoration ideas! Pick out your favorites and take them when you interview caterers.
Found on colincowieweddings.com
One of the MANY ideas I found on Pinterest! Absolutely love this simple, elegant look!
Caterers are also taking on The Cake role now days. While you are tasting food you might as well sample some cakes! Lunch and dessert?! Mmmm! Don’t forget to take pictures of your favorite cakes to the interview also!
Another one of my favorites! Love the rustic cake theme of this cake. Once again I had a hard time choosing one cake to show you. Check out the rest on our Autumn Oaks Pinterest page.
Another option caterers are offering is reception coordinating. Not only will they provide the food and drink but they also coordinate the entire reception. I highly recommend hiring someone for this! Worrying about making sure everyone has gone through the serving line and things are running smoothly is the last thing you and your family want to do! Hire someone and enjoy your day!
We are currently interviewing Caterers for our preferred vendor list and are anxious to share them with you! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for wedding vendor updates!